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What is Humility?
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"This week, let’s focus on removing pride from our hearts and seeking humility. Let’s spend time examining how pride and control may be impacting our ability to listen and comply."
Remember that a small sacrifice made well is always better than a big one that can't be maintained—don't try every suggestion on this page; just pick one or two for inspiration.
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Minute Meditations
"Our Father, who art in heaven" (Mt. 6:9).
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mt. 5:3).
Many saints reflected that they could spend forever meditating on the fact that we call God "Father." What does it mean to be a child of God? What does it mean to be poor in spirit? See what happens when you spend just a few minutes with these familiar lines.
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Offerings of Humility: With Others
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Pick up extra housework
Rather than telling your spouse they failed to finish their task
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Hold your tongue
Instead of trying to win every argument
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Accept corrections patiently
Rather than defending yourself at all costs
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Rejoice when someone else is praised
Instead of trying to take some credit in their accomplishment
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Apologize Sincerely
Swallow your pride and ask for forgiveness
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Ask for assistance
Even if it reveals your own shortcomings
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Offerings of Humility: In Spiritual Life
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Examine Your Conscience
Be honest in acknowledging where you need help, and ask for grace to improve
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Stay in Your Lane
Approach the spiritual life as befits your vocation...don't take on a penance that hurts your family, but don't stop praying because you have to do the dishes!
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Pray
Remember that all good comes from God, not from our own efforts. Thank Him for that, and ask for more grace!
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Be Faithful in Small Things
Pride tells us we can disregard small offerings because bigger acts are more important, but even the smallest sacrifice made well strengthens our virtue.
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Talk to Mary
She knows what you need before you know to ask for it, so ask for her intercession in all things.
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Ask for More
Virtues come from God, so if you're struggling, ask for more. It's an act of humility!
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Prayer for the Week
Pray the Litany of Humility this week and meditate on it as a guide for your offerings.
Click here for a printable PDF of the Litany of Humility
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Dive into Scripture
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Jesus, the Christchild, submitted to the authority of His Father in heaven and His human parents on earth.
Mary said "yes" to God's will at the Annunciation.
Joseph trusted the angel who told him to take Mary into his home and raise a child who is not his own.
Consider looking up these passages and meditating on them from a new perspective. How did God use the humility of Mary and Joseph, who could have responded out of pride and indignation, to work wonders in this world? What do they tell us about the meaning of humility?
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The Child Jesus in the Temple
Luke 2:41-52"He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them."
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The Annunciation
Luke 1:26-38"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."
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The Agony in the Garden
Luke 22:39-46"Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done."
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Joseph's Obedience
Matthew 1:18-25"He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him."
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Lectio Divina
Matthew 11: 28-39
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” -
From the Saints
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Looking for more examples of offerings of humility?
This "humility list" from St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) is a good starting point!
Click here to download St. Teresa's humility list. -
St. Therese of Lisieux
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St. Bonaventure
“Without [humility] not only is there no virtue, but that which might have been virtue is vitiated and turns to pride.”
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St. Augustine
"If you were to ask me, however often you might repeat the question, what are the instructions of the Christian religion, I would be disposed to answer always and only "Humility," although, perchance, necessity might constrain me to speak also of other things."
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St. John Vianney
"Humility is like a pair of scales: the lower one side falls, the higher rises the other. Let us humble ourselves like the Blessed Virgin and we shall be exalted."
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For ReflectionFrom The Imitation of Christ; Book 1, Chapter 7
"Do not take pride in your good deeds, for God’s judgments differ from those of men and what pleases them often displeases Him. If there is good in you, see more good in others, so that you may remain humble. It does no harm to esteem yourself less than anyone else, but it is very harmful to think yourself better than even one. The humble live in continuous peace, while in the hearts of the proud are envy and frequent anger."
